I am considering a breast enlargement and a tummy tuck. Can I have these procedures...

Q:

I am considering a breast enlargement and a tummy tuck. Can I have these procedures done at the same time?

A:

I am considering a breast enlargement and a tummy tuck. Can I have these procedures done at the same time?"

Answered by

Gary R. Culbertson, MD

Sumter, SC

For properly selected patients, it can be both safe and cost effective to have these two procedures (breast enlargement/ augmentation and a tummy tuck) performed at the same time. Your recovery time will be slightly longer. Also, you may want to consider a 23-hour observation or overnight stay in an ambulatory surgery center or hospital, depending on the length of these combined procedures. Please discuss this safety issue with your surgeon.

A:

A combination breast surgery and tummy tuck is often referred to as a mommy makeover. I regularly perform breast augmentation and tummy tuck together. However, it depends on the patient and the extent of the tummy tuck. As with all surgeries in my Raleigh, NC plastic surgery practice pre-operative testing would be necessary to ensure you are in excellent health. This would be a surgery where overnight observation in the OR would be mandatory.

A bit more information about Mommy Makeovers

The cost of a Mommy Makeover depends on the definition of a Mommy Makeover. No two women are exactly alike, therefore, the procedures administered and the cost will be different depending on the woman. Some plastic surgeons define a breast augmentation and lift (augmentation mastopexy) plus a tummy tuck (abdominoplasty) as a mommy makeover. But, in my practice, each woman has a different idea of what it means to get her pre-baby body back and that is very individualized. Therefore, the price has a significant range.

Breast Lift and Augmentation (Augmentation Mastopexy) may be an ideal option for many moms. An increasingly attractive and popular option for breast enhancement, particularly in women who have been through pregnancy and lactation, is the combination of a vertical mastopexy (breast lift) with breast augmentation. This is the ideal breast surgery procedure for women seeking breast enhancement who have experienced breast volume 'deflation' following pregnancy and lactation (and for those with 'deflated' appearing breasts who have never been pregnant), and who have the desire for a fuller breast profile.

For many women, a tummy tuck alone can be defined as a mommy makeover.

Many moms that I see for tummy tucks are very fit and in good physical condition, but despite efforts to 'slim down' through diet and exercise, the middle third of their body just doesn't match their more slender upper and lower thirds. As with all aesthetic surgeries, I attempt to restore a sense of harmony and balance to a patients figure when I perform an abdominoplasty.

The surgery is performed through a 'bikini-line incision' which, for a full tummy tuck, may extend from hipbone to hipbone. For patients that need only a 'mini-tummy tuck', the incision is usually somewhat smaller, extending just beyond the limits of the average C-section scar. The suprapubic incisions used for this operation are designed so that the resulting surgical scar is hidden by underwear or a bathing suit.

A full abdominoplasty requires the surgical creation of a new belly button. Creating the new belly button, which is called an umbilicoplasty, is a part of tummy tuck surgery that requires a great deal of attention and finesse on the part of the surgeon. My goal is to create a new belly button that, as much as possible, resembles a 'natural' belly button. Natural belly buttons do NOT look like a perfect circle, and circular umbilicoplasty scars are a tummy tuck dead giveaway.

My suggestion is to seek out plastic surgeons referred by friends, family or medical professionals, do research online and then have a consultation with a few to determine who has an understanding of what you are hoping to achieve with experience doing just that. Most practices will be able to provide many before and after photographs and patients you can speak to about their surgical experience. Never jump into surgery with haste. Take your time and think about what is really important to you and NEVER be pressured by practices encouraging you to schedule surgery quickly, especially if there are specials or perks for scheduling sooner than later. Most plastic surgeons with satisfied patients and busy practices keep busy with referrals and do not need to offer specials or financing. Take your time selecting your doctor and don't select a plastic surgeon based exclusively on price.

A:

Breast enlargement or breast augmentation can be done during the same procedure is a tummy tuck. This combination of procedures is often called a mommy makeover. Of course you must be in good health with no contraindications to surgery. You must also consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to find a surgeon who is willing to do combined procedures. In some practices two plastic surgeons can operate together shortening the time for you in the operating room.

A:

Breast enlargement or breast augmentation can be done during the same procedure as a tummy tuck. This combination of procedures is often called a mommy makeover. Of course you must be in good health with no contraindications to surgery. You must also consult with a board certified plastic surgeon to find a surgeon who is willing to do combined procedures. In some practices two plastic surgeons can operate together shortening the time for you in the operating room.